Fotu La Tunnel Tender: Twin Tunnels on the Leh Kargil Highway, Ladakh (Rs 824.12 Cr)

MoRTH wants twin tunnels driven under Fotu La pass on the Leh to Kargil highway so NH-01 stays open through winter, and the ₹824.12 crore Fotu La tunnel tender closes at 11:00 AM on 17 November 2026.

Why a tunnel under this pass

Fotu La is the highest point on NH-01 between Leh and Kargil and it shuts under snow. The contract is for uni-directional twin tunnels including approach roads across the pass, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, issued by the Regional Office at Chandigarh under reference NH-12014/11/2025/TUNNEL. The portal records an EPC contract with 1,095 days.

Uni-directional means one tube per direction of traffic, which is safer in a fire and simpler to ventilate than a single two-way bore. The approach roads on both portals are part of the same contract, so the winner is building road and tunnel together at altitude.

Terms, and one gap in the portal data

The estimate is ₹8,24,12,00,000 and the tender fee is ₹1,06,200. The EMD field on the portal shows 0.00 with exemption marked as not allowed, so the deposit is not stated in the summary data and has to be read off the bid document before you commit. Bids open at 11:30 AM on 18 November 2026.

Tunnelling work is open elsewhere in the region. Jammu and Kashmir has the Sinthan Pass twin tube tunnel tender, and BRO is bidding out the Karzok road in Ladakh for contractors who want altitude experience without the tunnel risk.

Working above 13,000 feet

The season here is short and thin air costs you output. Diesel engines lose power at altitude, so machines get sized up rather than down: bigger excavators at the portals, drill jumbos inside, and enough tippers to keep muck moving while the face is live. Shotcrete and segment handling need steady concrete from mixers kept warm enough to place.

Approach roads mean rock cutting, breast walls and a motor grader with compactors once the formation is through. Spares matter more than price in Ladakh. A machine waiting for a hose from Chandigarh is a week lost, so bidders usually stock a container of consumables at Khaltse or Lamayuru before the season opens.

Key facts

How to apply

1. Open the official portal: Central Public Procurement Portal.
2. Search by tender ID 2026_MoRTH_911281_1 (reference no. NH-12014/11/2025/TUNNEL) under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
3. Register on the portal and keep a valid Class III digital signature certificate ready.
4. Download the EPC document and the geotechnical annexures, confirm the EMD figure in the bid document, and check the ₹1,06,200 fee.
5. Submit your bid online before 17 November 2026, 11:00 AM.

Machines for this kind of work: Road Construction: machines, models and comparisons

More on DesiMachines

Rock work at altitude punishes machines. Compare excavators and compactors, or plan the purchase with equipment finance. See more live tenders in Ladakh or all live tenders.

FAQ

Tender details are summarised for convenience and may change. Always verify the latest dates, terms and documents on the official tendering portal before bidding. DesiMachines is not responsible for changes made by the issuing authority.